FILE - In this Nov. 6, 2012, file photo, U.S. Sen Jon Kyl, right, introduces U.S. Rep. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., during an election night party, at a hotel in Phoenix. At left is Flake’s wife, Cheryl Flake. Sen. John McCain’s ...
more >

That could help another Arizona Republican who is currently trying to join the U.S. Senate - Rep. Martha McSally.

McSally is running against Democratic Rep. Kyrsten Sinema for an open senate seat in November.

Analysts rate the contest as a toss-up. If McSally loses, she’d be out of a job just in time for Kyl’s appointment to end on Jan. 3.

Arizona’s governor would be required by state law to appoint another Republican before the 2020 election.

She’s a former Air Force colonel and the first female combat pilot.

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey said on Tuesday he wants Kyl to serve the entire stretch until 2020. Kyl was openly reluctant.

Notably, Kyl is close to McSally. She worked for Kyl as a national security adviser.

___

10:45 a.m.

Former Arizona Sen. Jon Kyl is well-respected in Arizona and has been able to avoid many of the battles with activists that complicated the late John McCain’s career and that of the state’s other senator, Jeff Flake. Flake is retiring because his feud with Trump made his re-election impossible.

Kyl was appointed on Tuesday to serve as the replacement for McCain, who died of brain cancer.

McCain’s widow, Cindy, tweeted: “Jon Kyl is a dear friend of mine and John‘s. It’s a great tribute to John that he is prepared to go back into public service to help the state of Arizona.”

The replacement for the late John McCain in the Senate is currently shepherding Trump’s nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The appointment of the Republican Jon Kyl’s on Tuesday by Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey may make it possible for him to vote for the nomination.

Ducey, also a Republican, added the hashtag #KavanaughConfirmation to his announcement.

Kyl is an experienced foreign policy hand and will be entering a narrowly divided Senate where Republicans could gain or lose seats in November.

The GOP is hoping he’ll be a more reliable partisan vote than McCain, whose opposition to a partial repeal of President Obama’s health care law pitched the party into turmoil last year.

___

10:30 a.m.

Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake is praising the selection of former U.S. Sen Jon Kyl to replace the late John McCain in the Senate.

The Republican Flake says in a statement that “there is no one more qualified” than Kyl, a Republican.

He adds that Arizona “will be well-served by Jon’s willingness to once again serve his country.”

Arizona’s Republican Gov. Doug Ducey on Tuesday announced that Kyl would replace McCain and serve at least until January 2019.

McCain died Aug. 25 of brain cancer and served with Kyl in the Senate for years.

Flake decided not to run for re-election this year.

___

10:25 a.m.

Former U.S. Sen. Jon Kyl says he’s grateful for the confidence of the Arizona governor and that he will do his best to ensure the state continues to be well-represented as he takes over John McCain’s Senate seat.

Kyl said Tuesday that he has committed to serving through the year and won’t seek office in 2020. He said a “sense of duty” drove his decision to take the appointment.

Voters in 2020 will get to decide who fills the remainder of McCain’s seat through 2022. Then the seat will be up again for a full six-year term.